It sounds to me as if the user is trying to accomplish the same thing you
can do in WordPerfect by setting up a separate file for a specific record
and then merging just that record to the mail merge main document (for
example, to insert inside address, salutation, and other variable data into
a letter). My husband still creates "form" (but not multiple) letters this
way. In Word we would usually do this with a UserForm, form fields, ASK or
FILLIN fields, etc., in a template to create a new document.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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"Cindy M -WordMVP-" wrote in message
news:VA.0000b971.00520224@speedy...
Hi John,

You're using terminology a bit differently than the "standard", so I'm
having
some problems following exactly what the problem is. You also don't
mention
the version of Word involved, making it more difficult to guess.

1. a mail merge "record" is one data entry (like one person's address).

2. "records" are stored in a "data source". A data source can be a table
in a
Word document, an Excel workbook, an Access database table or query, a
delimited text file, or any other kind of database.

3. the data source is linked to the mail merge "main document", where
merge
fields are inserted. The mail merge is then executed, either to the
printer
or a new document.

If I understand you correctly, you're saying you've created a data source
as
a Template. And you've set the "read-only" flag for this file. did you do
so
in Tools/Options/Save?

And you want to find some way of turning that off for documents created
from
the template? This could only be done using a macro, but that would
trigger
the macro security.

I have created a mail merge record that I want secured as a template.
Different users may open the template in 'read only' and then 'save as'
so
they may then enter their personal data for merging with a standard form
letter.

I have the form letter protected and it will allow opening as 'read
only'
and then be used by the individual

When 'save as' the mail merge record the protection goes with it and
will
not allow the individual to enter their data in the new file.


Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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